This previously unblogged session of a couple in love from my Urban Portraits Dumfries project is just right to be posted on Valentine’s Day. When Lucy and Matthew first contacted me they wrote about their affection for Nithsdale, their long walks along the stream and their appreciation of living near the river Nith running through Dumfries. That’s why on one fine sunny afternoon we headed for Dumfries town centre bridges and riverbanks for Lucy and Matthew’s urban photoshoot.
We started our session on the Victorian pedestrian suspension bridge at Whitesands. Light and airy, with its flat-link chains and iron-rod suspenders, lit by golden afternoon sun, the 1875 footbridge looked like an ideal romantic portrait location for our lovely couple.
Part of Urban Portraits Dumfries project is to celebrate the town as a giant idiosyncratic location set, with its unique character, colours and spaces. The panoramic outlook on the townscape, Whitesands and the river view, opening from the Robert Burns Centre, provided an impressive urban frame for location portrait photography. The round tiered turrets behind Lucy and Matthew came as if from a medieval fairy tale. The mirror that Lucy brought for our ‘magic bag’ prep technique allowed us to play with reflections focusing on the inner life of the couple.
One cannot imagine the river Nith without the solid masonry arches of one of Scotland’s oldest bridges, the Auld Brigg or Devorgilla Bridge. Intent on showcasing Dumfries’ best features, of course we included it on our riverside portrait itinerary.
This was great fun! Dumfries is so photogenic! Thank you, Lucy and Matthew, for taking part in the project!
If you are intrigued by the idea of urban portraits and would like to book your personalised photo session please use the contact form and I’ll get in touch with you to discuss the details.
